What do Newport need ahead of League Two campaign?
What do Newport need ahead of League Two campaign?
Luke Hemmings - BBC Sport Wales Thu, July 30, 2026 at 6:12 AM UTC
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Newport County are aiming to improve on their 20th-placed finish last season.
The slog of pre-season may be nearing its end, but there is still plenty of work to do at Newport County.
Following Tuesday's 4-0 defeat to Reading, interim boss Chris Todd says the club remain active behind the scenes as they look to strengthen the squad and leave their League Two relegation worries behind them.
"Everybody's striving for one thing, and that's trying to be up the table rather than down," said Todd.
Having made seven new signings, some proven at League Two level and others stepping up to the plate from non-league football, Newport will hope to find life a little easier this year.
But Todd acknowledges that more additions may yet be required.
"We know we need a few, but that will be down to obviously the chairman to make that decision," he said.
"There are always opportunities to strengthen. It's got to be right for the football club.
"Do we need a few more in different positions? Yes, but we're already working on that."
With just over two weeks until County begin their campaign away at AFC Wimbledon in the EFL Cup, time is running short.
BBC Sport Wales takes a look at the key question marks still facing the Exiles.
Can leaky Newport plug their defensive issues?
Newport's clearest weakness last season was at the back.
The Rodney Parade side kept just seven clean sheets and conceded 77 goals as they battled against the drop last term. Only three sides shipped more.
Goalkeeper Jordan Wright was forced into 137 saves and County dropped points from winning positions on 11 occasions, as individual errors and poor organisation repeatedly proved costly.
Similarly, Todd's frustration after Reading was more with the manner of the goals they conceded and the lack of organisation his side showed.
But despite the four-goal margin, there were some encouraging signs against the Royals.
Having featured 18 times for Bromley as they won promotion last season, summer signing Kyle Cameron donned the captain's armband, bringing composure and aggression to the backline.
And former Tranmere Rovers man Cameron Norman looked tough in the tackle at right-back as he returned to NP19.
The losses of Matt Baker - who played the most minutes of any County player last season - and Anthony Driscoll-Glennon do remove experience, but there is still depth.
Joe Thomas, Tom Davies and Cameron Evans can play at full-back, Dan Sassi adds competition at centre-back and youngster Harrison Halpin is pushing for opportunities, having netted in Newport's draw with Bath.
Newport's defensive options appear healthier than last season, but they do currently lack a senior figure at the back.
Having shipped six goals in their last two pre-season fixtures, it is clear Newport must improve in that department.
Perhaps an experienced League Two defender with pace and leadership qualities could help ensure the mistakes that Todd fears "creeping in" become less frequent.
Cameron Norman previously played for Newport from 2021 to 2023.A lack of depth and midfield creativity?
The midfield looks less settled
Having been increasingly influential in the survival run-in, the departure of Sven Sprangler to Walsall leaves a significant void.
His energy, defensive work and reliability in possession will be difficult to replace.
That responsibility now appears to fall on Cameron Evans, Ciaran Brennan and Keenan Patten, while Harrison Biggins is expected to shoulder much of the creative burden after making his move from Shrewsbury permanent.
Biggins registered five goal contributions in 21 appearances last season, but if he is to become Newport's main creator, that output may need to increase.
Beyond Biggins, options are limited.
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Kieron Evans has returned after a spell with Eastleigh, where he scored three times last season, and Matt Smith remains an option, but the Exiles are lacking midfield options with attacking impetus.
With Patten, Brennan, Evans and Cole Jarvis all more defensive-minded midfielders, adding a creative cog in the midfield could be key.
But Todd says there should still be optimism about the group's development.
"There's good players in that squad," he said. "It's bedding them in a little bit and working together, finding the right patterns and systems.
"I believe we're getting there. There's a lot more to be done. But I think it's headed in the right direction with a few adjustments."
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Do Newport have enough ammunition up front?
The greatest concern, however, is in attack.
Newport scored just 48 league goals last season, the sixth fewest in League Two. Since then, they have lost their top four scorers.
Nathaniel Opoku, who finished as top scorer with six goals, has returned to Leicester City.
Bobby Kamwa and Michael Spellman have also departed after contributing 10 goals between them, while four-goal Courtney Baker-Richardson has been released.
As things stand, Harrison Biggins' three league goals last season make him Newport's highest-scoring returning player.
James Crole finished as the club's leading assister with four but is set to miss the start of the campaign through injury.
For a side that averaged barely a goal per game and failed to score in more than a third of their matches, losing nearly half of last season's attacking output creates an obvious problem.
To address the exodus of goals, Newport have recruited former Forest Green Rovers wide player Yahya Bamba and non-league talisman Shaquille Gwengwe.
Gwengwe arrives with a good eye for goal, having scored 47 times for Poole Town in the seventh tier last season, and already netted a pre-season hat-trick, but both remain untested in the EFL.
Todd, however, says they are settling in well.
"They're good lads, they're working hard and they're trying to get it right," he said. "It's obviously going to take time. You can't just bed them all in straight away."
Ged Garner remains another option after scoring against Bath City in pre-season, but with just two league goals last season and a history of injury setbacks, it would be a risk to rely solely on him – especially as he has only once contributed more than six goals in a season.
Investment up front both centrally and out wide could well be vital if Newport are to score enough goals to avoid a relegation scrap.
Shaquille Gwengwe was prolific in non-leagueIs young talent the answer?
County could always turn to youth if needs be this season.
There have been pre-season chances for defender Halpin alongside attackers Moses Alexander-Walker and Harri Pugh.
Having signed his first professional contract with Newport this summer, Pugh started at right wing against Reading and received glowing praise from Todd.
"The kid's done brilliantly," he said. "Harri is somebody I was really impressed with last season, but the timing wasn't right, so he didn't have the opportunity.
"But he's a player that's been chomping at the bit for a while now and he showed in his performance his energy and his endeavour is second to none, and he will definitely play a part in the squad."
But if Newport are to achieve their ambition of looking up the table rather than down, recruitment across the pitch may well be crucial.
Todd was confident after the defeat to Reading, saying County "will definitely be more competitive than we were last year".
He added: "I'd be mad to stand here and say 'we're going to be down in a relegation battle'. I don't want to talk about that.
"I think it has to be positive, but we've got to work hard at that, and we've got to have a good start hopefully.
"And if we do that, then we give ourselves half a chance; who knows what can happen."
Whether the squad is stronger than last season is debatable, particularly in attack, but Newport still have work to do to avoid another relegation battle in 2026.
Source: “AOL Sports”
